Alan McInally: Darren Bent and co can fire Paul Lambert to safety

Paul Lambert is definitely the man to get Villa back on track and he will get more right than wrong

That’s because my old club are in for a rollercoaster of a campaign – of that I have no doubt.

Don’t get me wrong, Paul Lambert is definitely the man to get Villa back on track and he will get more right than wrong. But without question, the Holte Enders will enjoy both highs and lows as Villa’s season progresses.

The ups and downs were evident in the past couple of weeks. Getting walloped 4-1 by top-flight new boys Southampton then, a few days later, spanking Manchester City in the League Cup and then struggling at home before drawing 1-1 with West Brom.

They take on Spurs today and Lambert will work with what he has got and will improve both his management skills and his players’ attributes.

It can’t be easy working under Randy Lerner and the financial constraints he imposes and I really hope that one day the purse strings are loosened and Lambert gets a chance to bring more top-quality players to Villa Park.

It wouldn’t be a gamble in my eyes and who knows, once the powerbrokers learn to trust his judgment he may get a decent budget for transfers.

But for now, he will have to go with what he has. One of his star players is Darren Bent – if he decides to keep him.

Although Lambo dropped him for the game against the Baggies, Bent stepped off the bench to claim a vital equaliser.

He is a top-drawer striker and will score goals but I am not sure he can carry the burden up front all on his own.

For me, that is too much pressure to be ­under and that’s why I am glad Villa got their hands on Christian Benteke, who Lambert decided to start instead of Bent.

The Belgium forward was a transfer deadline-day arrival from Genk. You might remember he got a goal as Villa ended their 13-match run without a win against Swansea a few weeks back.

He has impressed me so far and I expect him to adjust to the pace of the Premier League and get better with time – that has to be encouraging for everyone connected with the club.

If you throw in Gabby Agbonlahor and Charles N’Zogbia – who both scored in the win over City – you’ll start to believe that, actually, Villa have decent options going forward.